Acetylene-gas generator.



Patented July 3, |906.A

ACETYLENE' GAS GENERATOR.

(Applicatiqn led Sept. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.)

2 Shaw-Sheet I ,8, imm

vo 6.47 A1- W/ TNE SSE S No. 653,099. Patented my s, 1900.

..|. E. LANDRUM, sa., a. F. ulLLoN & J. E. LANDRUM, 1n.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Sept. 18, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W/TNESSES: VEA/Tops Ad?. W

TH: Nonnxs PETERS co. novo-uwe., wAsmNG'roN. n. t:A

j TATns JOHN n. LANDRUM, sn.,

PATENT Enron.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,099, dated July 3, 1900.

Application led September 18,1899. Serial No. 730,805. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN E. LANDRUM, Sr., GEORGE F. DILLON, and JOHN E. LAN# DRUM, Jr., citizens of the United States, re-

siding at Oentreburg, in the county of KnoxV and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Acetylene- Gas Generators, of which the following isa specification. j j

Our invention relates to the improvement of acetylene-gas generators and the objectof our invention is to provide means whereby the carbid or other gas-producing material is only discharged into the generator when the mixing or generating bucket is in position to receive the same. This object we accomplish in the manner illustrated in the accompanyin g drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a central vertical section of our improved generating device, showing a gasometer in elevation adjacent thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan vien7 of the generating apparatus with the top of the feeding-dome or hoppercasing removed. Fig. 3 is a plan v iew of portions of said generating apparatus and'gasometer. Fig. t is an enlarged sectional view on line ma; of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is detail view in perspective of the outer end portion of the feed-operating bar, and Fig. 6 is a central vertical section through one of the carbid-car-V tridges and its casing.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.`

In carrying out ourinvention we employ a generator-body 1, which is in the-form of a box or casing the top portion of which is open on its forward side, as indicated at 2. In its rear and upper portion the casing 1 is formed with a compartment 3, the bottom plate 3 of which is provided with a central opening 4. About the central opening i we provide within the compartment 3 a daring or conical mouth 5. within the compartment 3 and below the Water-level thereof a transverse screen. Above said compartment 3 we employ a cylindrical case or dome 6,from an eccentrically-arranged opening- 7 in the bottomof which leads downward into the mouth 5 a discharging-chute 8. Centrally secured on a vertical shaft 9, which is rotatably mounted in the casing or dome As indicated at 3b, we employ 6, is a cylindrical feed-roller 10, the latter being formed adjacent to its outer side with a circular row of vertical and tubular openings 11. Rotatably mounted between each of the hopper-'openings 1 1 is the vertical portion of a trigger or supporting-trip 12, the upper arm of which extends, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2, on the out-er and inner side of the line of openings 11. 'lheinnerprojectin g portions 6o 12a of the upper transverse arms of said triggers project in the path of the lower end of a iinger 13, which projects downwardly from a cover-plate 14, which is suitably secured over a feed-opening 15 in the upper side of 65 the dome 6. The lower projecting arm of each of the triggers 12 is adapted to extend, as indicated at 16, beneath a portion of the adjoining hopper-opening 11. Upon the inner side of the cylindrical hopper 10 we pro- 7o` the rotation of the hopper in more than one i direction. Upon' the upwardly extending end portion of the vertical shaft 9, above the dome 6, is mounted to turn a horizontal bar 1,9. Immediately above this bar we iix to the shaft 9 the central portion of a ratchet-wheel 20, 8o

the inclined teeth of which are arranged on the upper side of its rim. Surrounding the ratchet-wheel 2O and supportedupon the bar 19 is a casing 21, the latter beingembracedY by a yoke 22, which is also mounted on said bar 19. Intersecting-the horizontal arm of the yoke 22 and rigidly connected therewith is a dial-plate 23, while upon the upper eX- remity ot' the shaft 9 is carried an indicatinghand 24. i

As shown in Fig. 3 of` theldrawings, the upper face of the dial-plate is provided with consecutively-arranged numbers corresponding with the number of feed-openings in the cylindrical hopper. yoke'22 which extends on the outer side of the casing 21 we fulcrum one end of a droppawl 25, the outerend of the latter beingnormally retained' by gravity in connection with the teeth of the ratchet 20, the armn of said roo With that portion of the is adjacent to the gasometer 26 we support a guide-bracketA 27, the latter consisting of a bifurcated casing, in yone side of which is journaled, in the direction of the length of the bar 19, a roller 28, the' remaining side of said bracket, which is separated by said bifurcation from the roller, being in the'nature` y employed in combination with water to proof an upright frame 29.

30 represents a bent rod the upper and inclined arm of which has its upper termination jointedly connected with a iiXed arm 3l of the gasometer-top 26. This inclined portion of the rod 30 passes, as shown, over the roller 28, while the vertical portion thereof extends downward and is adapted to work in suitable guides, which may project from thev gasometer-base or other suitable point. Supported fromthe top of the dome 6 is a short track-section32, which is designed to provide a bearing for atrack-roller 33, which is journaledff'rom the'under side'of the bar 19.

34-represents a bucket-holding cage which ispjrovided at the-center of its height and on oppositesides thereof with projecting trunnions, which are indicated in dotted lines at 35; These trunnionshave a pivotal connection with corresponding ends of. angular le- Ver-bars36, the outer endsof which are, as shown, fulcrumed on la horizontal-crank-shaf t 37, which-is journ-aled between the sidewalls off the'casing 1l at a point in front of thelowcr portion-ot'l the compartment 3. This crankshaft eXtends-throu gh one of the side walls ot the casing. land is p rovidedl with a handle extension.y 38, which when extending in one direction is adapted to be detachably connected witha suitable form of laterally-projecting` catch-bracket 39, thereby retaining saidzshaf-t-arm 38 in alsubstantially-horizon- -talfposition and supporting the bucket-holding cage in the position indicated in full lines iniFig. lof the drawingsthat is, with the saidcage immediately beneath the opening 4 of; the compartment 3. The shaft-arm 38 is alsoa'dapted when turned4 inthe oppos-itedirection-to 'engage a suitable proj ectingcatchpiece-40,.this reversal ot' position of the said: shaft -resultingiin the cage bein gswung to the position indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 1

edly connected with an arm 43, which pro-` jects'trom the forward wall of the compartment 3, a trigger-arm 44, the latter in its inner. portion being pivotally connected with one endl of an upwardly-extending and inclinedrodf4'5, which passes through a laterally-projecting bracket 46 onv the dome 6,

from which point said rod extends inward through a guide 47, which projects from said dome-top, thence upward and inward, terminating in a flattened portion a, which extends beneath the lower end of apin 25,

which extends downward from the pawl 25.

The carbid orsimilar material which is duce gas is contained in upright shells 48,

`having weighted bottoms and open upper sides, as indicated more clearly in Fig; 6. Each of these shells is adapted to be inclosed within an inverted-cup-shaped.. casing 49. The charges of carbid or cartridges thus constructed: are respectively inserted into the cylindrical hopper-openings 1l, the bottoms of the shells 48 being, asindicatedinv Fig. 6, supported uponV the inwardly -projecting lower arms 16 of the triggers 12, while the with the upper end of itsbucket 42 Ain'close vengagement with the lower extending end of the mouthpiece -that the casing 11. andi compartment -3 are partially filledwithzwaing hopper are charged withV the carbidcartridges 48. Asgas is used from-thegasome- Vter and the latter falls, itwill be seenv that the inclined portion ot' the rod` 30 must move downward against the roller 28, withthe result that the bar 19 is turned onY the shaft 9, and through-the engagement of the pawl 25- with the ratchet 20a corresponding rotary movement is imparted to. saidv shaft. The

partialrotation thus imparted to the shaft) is transmitted to the-hopper 10, with theresult that. one of the cartridges 48 is broughtopposite the chute or spout 8 and'withthe lfurther result that' the finger 13 by Contact with one of the trigger-arms 12a moves the lower supporting-arm 16 of said trigger f-.ronr

beneath-said cartridge and admits-of thelatter dropping through the chuteS and open.- ing 4 into the bucket 42, wherev the carbid contained thereinmingles withthe -w-ater and produces gas, which rises in the compartment When. the upper outwardly-extending arm of that triggery 12which has been operated by contact with the inger'13 comes into contact with alug 12b, which` project-sf from.

- the inner wall otl the casing 6, as-indicated inl Fig. 2, it is-obvious that in passing said-lug the trigger will be returne'dtto its normal position. From the compartment 3-itis obvious ter, and that the fced-openings-oit the rotat- Y IIO hand 24, which is fixed on said shaft, is carried to such point as to indicate a new numeral on the dial 23, when the bar 19 is returned to its normal position. In this manner the indicator-hand, in conjunction with said dial, will indicate the number of cartridges which have been dropped from the hopper.

Owing to the employment of the screen 3", it will be observed that the gas-bubbles which rise through the water will by contact with the meshes of said screen be broken or separated in such manner as to admit of the gas being more completely subjected to the washing action of the water.

Vhen it is desired to remove the residue from the gen erating-bucket, it is obvious that the lever or shaft arm 38 may be so turned as to bring the bucket and its cage to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, in which position access may be had to said bucket, and the same may be removed and cleaned. In this upward and outward swinging movement of the bucket and its cage it is obvious that the bucket will come into contact with the trigger-arm 4:4, causing the same to be raised to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l and through this raised movement producing a lifting movement of the rod until, through contact of the latter with the pawl-pin 25, said paWl is lifted out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel 20. In this manner it Will be observed that operation of the feeding-hopper will be prevented when the cage is not in position to receive the charges of carbid. However, when the bucket is returned to the position indicated in full lines in Fig. l it is obvious that the trigger 44 will be dropped downward to its normal position and the pawl-pin rele'ased from contact with the extension 45a of the rod 45 and the pawl again allowed to drop into engagement With thc teeth of the ratchetwheel 20.

In the manner above described it will be seen that improved means are provided for automatically discharging charges of carbid from a hopper or magazine into the generator and that these discharges will occur only when thequantity or volume of gas contained in the gasometer has become so reduced as to necessitate an additional generation.

Having now fully described our invention, What We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In an acetylene-gas-generating mechanism, the combination with a main casing l provided with a gas-compartment which communicates with said main casing,a gasometer and a pipe connecting the latter with said gas-compartment, a transverse shaft in said casing l having an operating-arm, a bucketholding cage swung from said shaft and adapted to be retained immediately beneath the communicating opening between the coimpartment 3 and casing l or to be swung to a position in the upper portion of said casing 1, of a rotary carbid-supply hopper journaled above the compartment 3, said hopper containing a circular row of vertical openings adapted to detachably support charges of carbid, a ratchet-wheel carried on the shaft of said hopper, a gravity-pawl engaging the teeth of said ratchet-wheel and having a depending pin, means for imparting rotary motion to the ratchet through the movement of its pawl, a trigger journaled within the casing l in the path or" the swinging bucket-cage and a rod connected with said trigger and adapted by the upward movement of the latter to contact with said pawl-pin, vsubstantially as specified.

' JOHN E. LANDRUM, SR.

GEORGE F. DILLON. JOI-IN E. LANDRUM, JR. In presence of- MAURICE WELSH, J. C. Con. 

